Spout and cap



Aug. 12, 1941. c MGQUINN I 2,252,468

SPOUT ANDCAP Filed March 22, 1937' s sneaks-sheet i indent-saga!! g C. MQUINN SPOUT AND CAP Aug. 12, 1941.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22, 1937 C. McQUINN SPOUT AND CAP Aug. .12,1941.

Filed Marbh 22, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet Patented Aug. 12, 1941 SPOUT AND CAPCarl McQuinn, Decatur, Ill., assignor to Williams Sealing Corporation,Decatur, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application March 22, 1937,Serial No. 132,436

8 Claims.

The present invention is a dispensing container spout and a closure forthe same.

An object of the invention is the provision of a container spout havinga substantially dripless pouring lip and a closure engageable over thespout and lip and capable of eiiecting a sealing of the contents of thecontainer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pouring spout which willafford a uniform engagement circumferentially of the spout with aclosure of the type having a contractible skirt. Such a closure isshown, for example, in Patents 1,743,945, granted January 14, 1930, and1,214,734, granted February 6, 1917.

A further object of the invention is to provide the combination of apouring spout and a closure of the character above described in which apositive locking engagement of the cap and the spout and an effectiveseal between the cap and the spout are uniformly providedcircumferentially of the spout and cap.

In the production of a spouthaving a pou. ing lip, it is desirable thatthe lip be so formed as to insure the free pouring of the contents ofthe container with a minimum of dripping, and at the same time cooperatewith a closure to insure an effective seal. The prior art disclosesspout constructions which have pouring lips and depending flangessurrounding the spouts. and lips and provided with closure engagingmeans. These flanges are usually interrupted, such as being cut away ordepressed at the pouring lip to insure a minimum of dripping after thepouring operation. I have found, however, that this advantage isnullified by decreasing the efficiency of the sealing action. That is,the cutting away or depressing of the spout flange at the pouring lipcauses leakage and does not provide the effective seal that is obtainedby the use of an unbroken uniform skirt or flange. The present inventionis designed to obviate these objectionable features by providing a spoutconstruction wherein the pouring lip is dripless and at the same timeinsures an eifective seal between the spout and closure. This isaccomplished by forming the spout with a pouring lip and a dependingflange surrounding the spout and lip and terminating in a uniform edgespaced from the wall of the spout. With this construction, I combine acap having a top sealing surface and a depending contractible skirtadapted to extend below the edge of the spout flange whereby contractionof the skirt will draw the latter inwardly and downwardly intoengagement uniformly with the entire flange of the spout, and thusproduce r an effective sealing action between the top of the cap andspout.

Another object is the provision of a cap having a contractible skirt, asplit ring mounted in the skirt and a sheet metal lever for contractingthe ring and skirt.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will now bemore particularly de scribed, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings in which;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention showingthe cap applied to the spout.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the spout and cap shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section through the cap and spout.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical section through the cap and spout.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the spout with the cap removed.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal vertical section through the spout with thecap removed.

Figure 8 is a modification of the cap shown in Figure 1. Figure 9 is adetail view of the cap lever.-

Figure 10 is a section on line I0, I!) of Figure 9. Figure 11 is asection on line I I, II of Figure 9. Figures 12 and 13 are details ofone method of forming the apertures in the lever, and

Figures 14 to 22a inclusive, illustrate successive steps in theformation of the pouring spout.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral I0 designates generally asheet metal container having a spout I I of substantially circularformation projecting upwardly therefrom. This spout is provided with apouring lip I2 which extends outwardly past the circular contour of thespout. The extreme top portion of the spout is beaded or rounded to forma sealing surface I3 which entirely surrounds the spout and pouring lipand, as clearly shown in Figure 6, has a substantially oval contour. Thespout is provided with a relatively narrow depending flange I4 forming acontinuation of the sealing surface I3. This flange is unbroken andsubstantially uniform in construction and it is not interrupted,depressed or cut away at any point throughout its contour. By providinga circumferentially continuous spout flange, there is assured a uniformgripping of the spout by the contractible skirt of the closure, andconsequently a uniform seal circumferentially of the pouring lip.Preferably, the flange is of uniform width circumferentially of thespout, thereby assuring a uniform seal around the pouring lip, andterminates short of thlower edge of the closure skirt whereby thecontracted edge of the closure skint may be drawn beneath the free edgeof the spout flange. Further, the substantially sharp edge l5 cooperateswith the pouring lip l2 to form an eflicient dripless pouring spout.

Cooperating with the spout II to form an efficient seal for the contentsof the container is a cap l5 having a top I1 and a dependingcontractible skirt l8. This skirt is provided with a plurality of slotsl9 extending upwardly from the bottom thereof, the metal between theslots being rolled upwardly to form sleeves 20, thereby providing adiscontinuous angular seat for a contractible clamping ring 2|. The endsof the wire are formed into hooks 22 which are located in a wide slotfrom which the metal of the skirt has been rolled into a rear sleeve 23.

For the purpose of contracting the ring 2| and skirt, I provide a sheetmetal lever 24 having a handle portion 25 and a head 26. This headconsists of a pair of spaced ears 2'! which project'upwardly and at anangle to the longitudinal axis of the handle. The ears converge inwardlyand forwardly of the handle and each ear is of a substantially fiatcircular shape and is provided with a centrally disposed aperture 28through which one of the wire hooks 22 is adapted to project, as clearlyshown in Figures 1 to 5 and 9. The handle 25 is preferably curvedconvexly to facilitate operation of the lever and for the purpose ofstrengthening the lever it is formed with a reinforcing rib 29 extendingaround the contour of the handle. The ears are also formed withreinforcing ribs 30 and there is a cross reinforcing rib 3| extendingbetween the two ears.

The ears 21 comprise cams which upon a rotary movement of the leverabout the apertures as a pivot, effect a contraction and ex pansion'ofthe wire 2| and consequently a contraction and expansion of the capskirt l8. It will be observed that each hook 22 before it passes throughits corresponding aperture 28 is curved around the front face of theear. This face therefore constitutes a cam surface over which the hookrides and cooperates with the other cam surface to cause the expansionand contraction of the ring and skirt.

The interior of the top of the cap is preferably provided with a liner32 and the skirt I8 is of suiflcient depth to permit the ring 2| toextend below the edge l5 of the flange |4 when the cap is flrst appliedto the spout The ring and skirt will initially be in expanded positionwith the lever in the dotted line position shown in Figure 5. The liner32 will lightly contact with the sealing surface l3 throughout itsentire periphery and the ring 2| will. be directly below the edge l5 ofthe flange |4. As the lever is grasped by the fingers of the operatorand moved outwardly and downwardly to the position shown in full lines,Figure 5, the ring and skirt l3 will be contracted about the flange I4.This action will effect an inwardly and downwardly pull on the cap skirtand thus provide a tight effective seal between the sealing surface l3and the liner 32. Furthermore, by reason of the spout and the flange |4being formed of sheet metal, the latter is subjected to the force of thecontracting action of the ring 2| and will be placed under tension, thusfurther increasing the sealing action between the cap and spout.

It will be apparent that the present spout and cap combinationincorporates all of the advantages of the prior art constructionswithout their defects. That is, the spout with its pouring lip andnarrow depending flange insures a dripless action and by reason of theuniform contour of the flange l8, the efli'ciency of the sealing actionis not sacrificed, as is the case where the flange is interrupted or cutaway in the pouring lip.

The flange terminates short of the lower wired edge of the closure, asbest shown in Fig. 5, except at the lever where the cap skirt is curledupwardly to form the sleeve 23. By forming the spout flange relativelynarrower than the cap skirt, the edge of the latter extends below thefree edge of the spout flange, and upon operation of the lever iscontracted slightly beneath the flange, insuring a uniform engagement ofthe cap skirt with the spout throughv of the skirt beneath the free edgeof the spout flange. The uniform width of the flange thus assures notonly a continuous frictional engagement of the cap skirt with theflange, but a uniform locking of the wired edge of the cap beneath theedge of the flange circumferentially of the cap. The spacing of theflange edge from the spout wall provides a relatively yielding and sharpsurface to be engaged by the cap skirt when the latter is contracted andone which is concealed within the cap when the latter and the spout areassembled.

Furthermore, the particular construction of the lever adds greatly tothe efliciency of the cap. By forming the levers of sheet metal they maybe made in quantity production and with great precision. This isimportant in that any slight variation in the relative sizes of the camswill affect the operating efficiency of the lever and cap.

In Figures 12 and 13 thereare disclosed two steps in the formation of aslightly modified form of ear or cam for the lever 25. In thisarrangement each ear 33 is first formed with a relatively small aperture34 surrounded by a flat portion .35 contained within the ribbed portion36 of the ear. The portion 35 is so formed as to permit the same to berolled outwardly and inwardly as at 31, Figure 13-. This provides asmooth rounded bearing surface for the hook 22 of the contractingwire'and prevents the aperture from having any rough edges which mightcut into the metal of the hook and thus shorten the life of the cap.

In Figure 8, there is disclosed a cap 33 having a contractible skirt 39similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 5. In this view, however, thelever 40 is formed of wire instead of sheet metal and cooperates withthe hooks 4| through the loops 42. This illustration is primarily toshow that a cap having this type of lever is capable of providing aneflicient seal between the sealing surface l3 and the cap liner 32. Inother words, the novel combination of the spout and cap, as abovedescribed to produce a dripless spout and an eflicient seal, notdependent upon the use of my sheet metal lever. It is to be understood,however, that my sheet metal lever constitutes a substantial improvementand has many advantages over the wire type of lever.

Referring now to Figures 14 to 22, there is disclosed the method offorming the spout ll. These figures illustrate the .successive steps inthe formation of the spout from the flat annular blank 43 shown inFigure 14. Several drawing operations are initially performed on thisblank, the first operation blanking out the metal to the form shown inFigures 15 and 15a. In these views, the blank has been formed into asubstantially cup shaped article 44 having a cylindrical wall 45provided with a bottom 46, the upper extremity of the wall terminatingin a flat annular flange 41. The subsequent drawing operation is for thepurpose of reducing the diameter of the cylindrical portion 45 such asdisclosed in Figureslfi and 16a.

The next step comprises the formation of the pouring lip 48, this lipbeing pressed into portions of both the cylindrical wall 45 and theflange 41, as illustrated in Figures 1'7 and 17a.

The cup is then pierced or punched to remove the greater portion of thebottom 46 of the cup, this operation leaving a slightly inturned flange49, as shown in Figure .18. In the next step, this flange isstraightened out as at 50 in Fig. 19 to form a portion of thecylindrical wall 45 and completely eliminate any base or bottom wall tothe spout.

' In the next operation, as shown in Figures 20 and 20a, the flange 41is trimmed to its final dimensions, after which it is bent or rolled toprovide an interrupted depending skirt 5|, as shown in Figures 21 and21a. As clearly described in the earlier part of the specification, itis quite important that this flange bending or rolling operation producea uniform upper sealing surface extending in substantially a singleplane to permit this surface to cooperate with the contractible cap toprovide, an efficient seal between these two elements. It is alsoimportant that the depending skirt portion be continuous and interruptedin order that it may cooperate with the contracting flange of the cap toretain the sealing surfaces in operative relation. If desired, the spoutmay undergo a further operation in order to form an annular jaw bead 52on the cylindrical portion 45.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the detailsof construction shown in the drawings and described in thespecification, and that the example of the use of the device which hasbeen given does not include all of the uses of which it is capable;also, that the phraseology employed in the specification is for thepurpose of description and not of limitation.

I claim:

1. In combination, a container having a spout provided with a pouringlip and a sealing surface surrounding the pouring lip and having asubstantially oval contour, said spout having a uniform, outwardly anddownwardly turned depending flange forming a continuation of the sealingsurface and terminating in anedge spaced outwardly from the wall of thespout, a cap having a substantially oval top engageable with the sealingsurface and having a skirt adapted to extend below the edge of the spoutflange, and lever means at the rear blunt end of the cap for projectingthe skirt under the free edge of the spout flange at the sharp, pointedend of the lip to effect a sealing engagement between the cap andsealing surface, particularly at the latter end. i

2. A pouring spout comprising a cylindrica neck at the lower end thereofand a head at the upper end thereof, comprising a rear portionconstituted by a straight line continuation of the cylindrical neck, aforwardly projecting lip portion disposed on a substantiallyfrusto-conical surface joining the rear portion, and a substantiallyuniformly outwardly and downwardly turned flange extending entirelyaround the lip portion and the rear portion, and terminating in a freelower edge spaced outwardly from said portions, the upper end of saidspout being disposed to lie in a common plane.

3. A pouring spout having an upper end adapted to be sealed by a closurehaving a plane, downwardly facing sealing surface, said spout comprisinga substantially circular, cylindrical lower portion adapted to besecuredat its lower end to a receptacle; an upper portion comprising arear section formed from a straight upward continuation of the lowerportion, and a front, lip section formed from an outwardly and upwardlyprojecting, inclined wall forming a pouring lip, the upper ends of bothof said sections being disposed in a common, substantially horizontalplane, and an outwardly and. downwardly turned marginal flange extendingentirely around the upper end of the spout and constituting an integralcontinuation of both said rear section and said lip section andconstituting a reinforcing means for the latter to maintain the upperend thereof in said common plane, said flange terminating in a free edgesubstantially entirely around the spout and adjacent the lip end thereof and being adapted to be engaged by the lower end of the skirt of areceptacle closure in hooked relation thereunder to maintain a tightseal between said downwardly facing sealing surface thereof and the lipend of the spout.

4. A spout comprising a substantially circular, cylindrical lower neckportion, and an upper portion having an oval margin at its upper end,and a substantially uniform outwardly and downwardly turned marginalflange, all points on the pper end of the spout being disposed to lie ina common plane, the rear blunt end of the oval being formed by astraight upward continuation of the cylindrical neck, and the forward,pointed end of the oval being formed at the upper end of an outwardlyand forwardly inclined lip portion merging with the cylindrical portion,said depending flange terminating in a free edge spaced outwardly fromthe inclined lip portion and providing a substantially dripless pouringlip and also serving as an abutment under which the depending skirt of aclosure may be projected by securing means associated therewith.

5. In combination, a pouring spout and a closure cap for the spout, saidspout comprising a lower cylindrical neck portion adapted to be securedto a container, and a head at the upper ,end of the neck comprising arear portion constituted by a straight line continuation of thecylindrical neck, a forwardly projecting lip portion disposed on asubstantially frusto-conical surface, and a substantially uniformoutwardly and downwardly turned flange extending entirely around thespout and terminating in a free lower edge and providing a substantiallydripless pouring edge for the lip portion, said closure cap comprising atop having a downwardly facing sealing pad engageable with the uppersurface of the flange entirely around the perimeter tion thereof.

6. In combination, a pouring spout and a closure cap for the spout, saidspout comprising a lower cylindrical neck portion adapted to be securedto a container, an outwardly projecting, horizontally disposedcircumferential rib at the upper end of the neck, positioned to beengaged and gripped by the supporting jaws of a filling or closingmachine, and a head above said rib comprising a rear portion constitutedby a straight line continuation of the cylindrical neck, a forwardlyprojecting lip portion disposed on a substantially frusto-conicalsurface, and a substantially uniform outwardly and downwardly turnedflange extending entirely around the spout and terminating in a freelower edge and providing a substantially dripless pouring edge for thelip portion, said closure cap comprising a top having a downwardlyfacing sealing pad engageable with the upper surface of the flangeentirely around the perimeter thereof, a depending skirt having aportion projecting under the free edge of the flange at the lip portionof the spout, and lever means carried by the cap at the rear end thereoffor drawing the skirt under the free edge of the flange at the lipportion to effect a tight sealing engagement between the pad and theupper surface of the flange, particularly at the lip portion thereof. 7

'7. In combination, a pouring spout and a closure therefor, said spoutcomprising a lower cylindrical neck fixedly adapted to be secured to acontainer, an upper portion comprising a rear section formed from astraight upward continuation of the neck, and a front lip section formedfrom an outwardly and upwardly projecting, 1nclined wall forming apouring lip, and an outwardly and downwardly turned, integral marginalflange extending entirely around the upper end of the spout andconstituting a reinforcing means to maintain the lip section againstdeflection under sealing pressure, said flange terminating in a freeedge adjacent the lip end of the spout and providing a substantiallydripless pouring edge, said closure cap comprising a top, a sealing padbelow the top positioned to engage the upper face of the flange entirelyaround the perimeter of the spout, a depending skirt having a portionengageable with the edge of the flange at the lip end of the spout, andlever means carried by the opposite end of the cap for drawing the skirtdownwardly to effect tight sealing engagement between the pad and theflange, particularly at the lip end.

8. A sheet metal lever for use with a container closure having acontracting ring associated with its skirt, said lever comprising arearwardly projecting handle portion and ahead having spacedsubstantially circular ears projecting upwardly from! the plane of thehandle and lying in angularly disposed, rearwardly diverging planes withrespect to the longitudinal axis of the handle so that the facingsurfaces and circumferential edges of the ears diverge rearwardly andconverge forwardly, said ears being provided with centrally disposedapertures for receiving the rearwardly and laterally bent ends of saidcontracting ring, said facing surfaces and edges of said earsconstituting cam surfaces around which the end portions of thecontracting ring are bent, whereby, upon pivoting movement of the handleabout the center of the apertures, the ends of the ring are contractedor expanded.

CARL McQUINN.

